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304 · UNS S30400 · EN 1.4301
304 Stainless Steel for Your Machined & Formed Parts
Connect your material, manufacturing route and final surface requirements before you order.
For your 304 stainless steel machining project, identify the fits, formed features, welded joints and environment that control the finished component.
3 Decisions Before Your Material Is Released
1 · Grade & form
Keep 304 stainless, 304L and dual-certified stock distinct in your purchase requirement. Confirm the actual product standard.
2 · Fabrication route
Relate material removal, forming and joining to the same finished drawing. A stock description alone does not define a part.
3 · Final acceptance
State the inspection condition, appearance, cleanliness and any evidence your application requires.
304, 304L and Your European Material Name
Stainless steel 304 is an austenitic chromium-nickel material. Search names such as SS 304 help you find the family; your controlled drawing should retain the exact grade and specification.
| Designation | Your order check |
|---|---|
| 304 · UNS S30400 | EN 1.4301 / X5CrNi18-10 is a common European correspondence. |
| 304L · UNS S30403 | EN 1.4307 / X2CrNi18-9 identifies a low-carbon alternative; specify it when required. |
| 304 stainless steel ASTM A240 | Confirm the applicable flat-product specification, revision, thickness and condition; do not apply a sheet standard to every stock form. |
Names aid navigation; they are not blanket substitution approval. Stainless Steel Material Guide →
304 Stainless Steel Composition & Properties
Read 304 stainless steel properties with the product form, standard and delivery condition. This selected 304 stainless steel composition comparison highlights the supplier's typical carbon difference.
304 vs 304L: Selected Typical Chemistry
Outokumpu Core reference · mass % · supplier typical values
Core 304 / 4301C 0.04%
Core 304L / 4307C 0.02%
00.0250.05 mass %
| Selected reference | C · mass % | Cr · mass % | Ni · mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core 304 / 4301 | 0.04 | 18.1 | 8.1 |
| Core 304L / 4307 | 0.02 | 18.1 | 8.1 |
The cited values are selected typical chemistry from Outokumpu, not a complete specification or LK test report. Elements omitted from this comparison must still meet your controlled material requirement.
For your part, lower carbon is a selection input where welding-related material behavior matters. It does not remove the need to review the joint, environment and final condition.
Your 304 Sheet Metal Parts: Plan the Bend & Visible Face
For 304 stainless steel sheet metal fabrication, define thickness, bend direction, holes near bends and the faces that remain visible. Keep protective film and grain direction in the fabrication plan.
For custom 304 stainless steel sheet metal parts, connect 304 stainless steel laser cutting and 304 stainless steel bending to the finished assembly dimensions.
For 304 stainless steel brackets and 304 stainless steel enclosures, identify mounting interfaces, hardware and cosmetic acceptance before the flat pattern is released.
Sheet Metal Fabrication →
304 Stainless Steel CNC Machining: Control Features & Access
304 stainless steel machinability depends on condition, tooling, workholding and the actual cut. Describe the feature that must work rather than relying on one machinability score.
For 304 stainless steel milling, identify pocket depth, thin sections and datum access. For 304 stainless steel turning, connect bearing lands, shoulder lengths and bore relationships to inspection.
304 stainless steel turning services for 304 stainless steel spacers need a clear length, mating diameter and burr requirement.
CNC Milling → · CNC Turning →
Bring Your Welded Assembly Into the Material Decision
For 304 stainless steel welding, identify the joint, weld access, distortion-sensitive relationships and required final cleaning. Discuss whether the drawing should specify 304L.
For 304 stainless steel fabricated parts, agree the joining and machining sequence before setting final dimensional acceptance. State any procedure qualification or inspection requirement explicitly.
Welding & Fabrication →
Specify the Surface Your Customer Will Receive
For 304 stainless steel polishing, define the faces, grain direction, reference sample and surfaces that must remain protected.
For 304 stainless steel passivation, agree cleaning, treatment compatibility and the verification scope for the actual component. A bright surface alone does not establish corrosion suitability.
For 304 stainless steel laser marking, identify the marking position, content, readability and any restrictions on functional or visible surfaces.
Brushing & Polishing → · Laser Marking Review →
Compare Your Requirement Before Substituting
| Your decision | 304 / 304L | Alternative to review |
|---|---|---|
| Machined small features | Confirm chip control, condition and joining needs. | 303: review machining focus and exposure before any change. |
| Formed visible sheet | Confirm bends, grain and final environment. | 430: compare family, forming, finish and service suitability. |
| Fluid or chloride exposure | Specify the actual medium, temperature and cleaning. | 316 / 316L: review the exact application; no universal corrosion guarantee. |
| Welded assembly | Review low-carbon requirement and complete weld route. | 304L is not automatic approval for an unspecified welding procedure. |
4 Drawing Checks for Your 304 Component
01 · Hole & thread access
Show the full thread and intersecting passage
Give the entry, intersection and useful depth for 304 stainless steel drilling and 304 stainless steel tapping. For 304 stainless steel threaded parts, specify the final functional fit.
Mark the thread standard, useful engagement, tool entry and internal burr-access route. Keep the supplied condition and inspection method with the drawing.
200 GPaElastic modulus at 20°C
Outokumpu Core 304/4301 physical reference; this is a material stiffness value, not a thread-strength or tolerance guarantee.
Read the source and conditions →
02 · Bend relationships
Locate the bend, relief and mounting holes together
Connect the bend, hole pattern and visible face to the finished mounting condition. Discuss springback and tooling with the chosen material form.
Show sheet thickness, rolling direction and hole-to-bend relationships. Agree springback and the final formed inspection state for your geometry.
45%A80 minimum reference
Core 304/4301, ASTM A240 strip t ≤ 5 mm in the cited Table 1. Tensile elongation does not prescribe a minimum bend radius.
Read the source and conditions →
03 · Weld sequence
Choose the grade before releasing the joint
Define joint access, cleaning and inspection state before final machining. Identify the dimension that must hold after assembly.
Identify weld access, sequence, final machining and required cleaning. Discuss whether the drawing requires 304L before substituting material.
0.04% / 0.02%304 / 304L typical carbon · mass %
Supplier typical chemistry, not specification limits or a test of your lot. The low-carbon choice does not replace welding-procedure review.
Read the source and conditions →
04 · Appearance & handling
Make the visible face an inspectable requirement
Mark cosmetic faces and grain direction. Keep accepted samples, protection and packaging tied to your release.
Identify grain direction, accepted sample, protected faces and packing. Keep the desired appearance separate from corrosion-suitability evidence.
2G / 2JGrinding / brushing finish designations
Finish categories in the cited supplier discussion. They do not establish one roughness value; specify your required surface and acceptance.
Read the source and conditions →Keep Your Material & Finished-Part Records Connected
Material baseline
Exact grade, product standard and specified condition.
Assembly relationships
Datums, fits, threads and final inspection state.
Surface evidence
Agreed appearance, cleaning and treatment records.
Release identity
Revision, lot identification, exceptions and packing.
5 Inputs Behind Your 304 Finished-Part Quote
For your 304 stainless steel machining quote, compare the same finished scope. When reviewing a 304 stainless steel CNC parts manufacturer, connect the route and records to your drawing.
Material form
Grade, stock form, thickness and delivery condition.
Feature access
Pockets, holes, threads and setup relationships.
Fabrication
Bends, joining, hardware and assembly sequence.
Surface route
Grain, polishing, cleaning and marking.
Release scope
Quantities, inspection records and packing.
From Your 304 Prototype to a Controlled Repeat Order
For 304 stainless steel prototype machining, define what the sample must prove and how the intended production stock and condition will be represented.
01 · Fix your baseline
Drawing revision, material, finish and acceptance.
02 · Review the sample
Fit, appearance, assembly and inspection evidence.
03 · Retain the release
Approved revision, change control and repeat inspection plan.
Your Questions Before Ordering 304 Parts
304 vs 304L stainless steel: what should your drawing say?
Specify the required grade and product standard. The low-carbon alternative matters to some welding-related selection decisions; confirm the full route and service requirement before changing material.
304 vs 430 stainless steel: can you substitute?
Review family, forming, joining, surface appearance and actual environment. Cost or a similar surface appearance alone does not establish interchangeability.
Is 304 stainless steel magnetic?
Do not use a magnet alone to accept the grade. Product condition and processing can affect the response; use the agreed material identity records.
Does 304 stainless steel rust?
It can corrode under unsuitable exposure or surface contamination. State the fluid, temperature, cleaning and retained moisture conditions for selection review.
Can 304 stainless steel be welded?
Review the joint and qualified procedure requirements, distortion, cleaning and final acceptance. Confirm whether 304L is required for your application.
Can 304 stainless steel be passivated?
Specify the cleaning and passivation requirement, compatibility and evidence scope for your actual component before ordering.
What is 304 stainless steel used for?
Consider equipment brackets, enclosures, spacers and machined or fabricated components where the specified grade and environment suit the design. A material name is not an application certification.
How much does 304 stainless steel machining cost?
Share the drawing, material form, quantity, fabrication, finish and evidence requirements. Compare the same finished-part scope rather than stock price alone.
6 Inputs for Your Custom 304 Stainless Steel Parts
For 304 stainless steel machining services, define the 304 stainless steel machined parts and any associated forming or joining as one controlled scope.
Drawing
Revision and CAD when available.
Material
Grade, standard, form and condition.
Features
Fits, threads, bends and joints.
Quantity
Prototype, repeat and release pattern.
Surface
Grain, finish, cleaning and marks.
Records
Material identity, inspection and packing.
